Volleyball upright and associated assemblies with an extension pole or a net

ABSTRACT

An upright configured such that the widest portions of the upright are adapted to be in line with a net line tension. An upright may also be configured such that its flat inner sides are adapted to be substantially perpendicular to a net line tension, which may also space the thinnest portions of the upright away from a net line tension. Furthermore, an upright may have a sloped top surface and an improved pin connection with an inner extension pole. As a result of any or all of these features, exemplary embodiments of an upright, an associated assembly with an extension pole and/or a net, and a related assembly method may provide improved resistance to net line tension.

This application claims the priority benefit of U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 62/857,997, filed Jun. 6, 2019, which is herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate generally to anupright or pole (hereinafter upright) and its associated assemblies withan extension pole or a net. Exemplary embodiments further includerelated methods for associated assemblies with an extension pole or anet.

In a typical setup, a pair of volleyball uprights are positioned onopposing sides of a playing court, and a taut net is suspended betweenthe uprights. Because the net is tightly drawn, a substantial amount offorce is placed upon the uprights. The force will eventually cause theuprights to bend, which will in turn negatively impact the tautness andplacement of the net. As a result, an upright will eventually need to bereplaced.

The known art has not adequately addressed this problem. FIGS. 1 and 2,respectively, show a known upright and its known associated assemblywith an extension pole and a net. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view ofthe known upright, wherein the widest portions of the upright arepositioned on opposing sides of the upright and spaced away from the netline tension by the thinnest portions of the upright. In such anassembly, the flat inner sides of the upright are parallel to the netline tension, and the net line tension runs through the thinnestportions of the upright. Moreover, this known upright has a flat topnear the pin connection with the inner extension pole, which has alimited strengthening benefit. In addition, as can be seen in FIG. 2,the orientation of the pin connection is perpendicular to the net linetension, which also limits the strengthening benefit. Consequently, thethinnest portions of the upright bear the most force, which eventuallycauses the upright to bend. A need, therefore, exists for an upright andassociated assembly with an extension pole and/or a net for improvedresistance to the net line tension. A need also exists for a relatedmethod for an associated assembly with an extension pole and/or a netfor improved resistance to net line tension.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention may satisfy at least oneof these needs. In an exemplary embodiment, an upright may be configuredsuch that the widest portions of the upright are adapted to be in linewith the net line tension. An exemplary embodiment of an upright mayalso be configured such that its flat inner sides are substantiallyperpendicular to the net line tension. Furthermore, an exemplaryembodiment of an upright may have a sloped top surface that extends awayfrom a pin connection with an inner extension pole (e.g., further awayfrom a pin connection with an inner extension pole as compared to a pinconnection of a conventional upright assembly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2).As a result of any or all of these features, exemplary embodiments of anupright, an associated assembly with an extension pole and/or a net, anda related assembly method may provide improved resistance to net linetension.

In addition to the novel features and advantages mentioned above, otherbenefits will be readily apparent from the following descriptions of thedrawings and exemplary embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a known upright and its conventionalrelationship with net line tension.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of a known associated net assemblycomprising the upright of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of anupright of the present invention, wherein the dimensions are exemplaryunless expressly set forth otherwise.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of an exemplary embodiment of anassociated net assembly comprising the upright of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT(S)

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are directed to avolleyball upright and an associated assembly with an extension poleand/or net. Exemplary embodiments of the present invention may beparticularly advantageous for the sport of volleyball. Nevertheless,unless expressly set forth otherwise, it is not intended to limit anexemplary embodiment of the present invention to any particular type ofsport. For example, a badminton upright and associated net assembly mayalso benefit from an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Asanother example, net assemblies that are not for sports may also benefitfrom an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows an exemplary embodiment of an upright 10. In thisembodiment, upright 10 comprises opposing widest portions 12 and 14 thatare spaced apart by opposing thinnest portions 20 and 22. Upright 10 mayalso have an inner configuration that further comprises: flat andparallel inner sides 16 and 18 that facilitate the formation of widestportions 12 and 14; and curved inner sides 21 and 23 that facilitate theformation of thinnest portions 20 and 22. In this example, sides 16, 18,21 and 23 are interconnected to form an opening 25 that is adapted toreceive an extension pole 60 that may assist upright 10 with supportinga net 40, such as shown in FIG. 4. In other exemplary embodiments, anupright may not require assistance with support of a net. An upright andoptionally an extension pole may support a net in any suitable orconventional manner (e.g., in a manner similar to a conventional netassembly).

In an exemplary embodiment of a net assembly, upright 10 may improveresistance to net line tension 42 that may result from supporting net40. In particular, upright 10 may be configured such that the widestportions 12 and 14 (most preferably the respective widest points ofwidest portions 12 and 14, such as shown in FIG. 3) are adapted to be inline with the net line tension 42 of a net. This exemplary embodiment ofan upright 10 may also be configured such that its flat and parallelinner sides 16 and 18 are adapted to be substantially perpendicular tothe net line tension 42 of a net, and its thinnest portions 20 and 22are positioned on opposing sides of upright 10 and spaced away from thenet line tension 42 by widest portions 12 and 14. Furthermore, as shownin FIG. 4, an exemplary embodiment of an upright 10 may have a slopedtop surface 24 with a tallest edge 26 that extends away from a pinconnection 50 with an inner extension pole 60 (most preferably furtheraway from a pin connection 50 with an inner extension pole 60 ascompared to a known upright assembly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2). As aresult of any or all of these features, an exemplary embodiment of anupright and an associated assembly with an extension pole and/or a netmay provide improved resistance to net line tension.

FIG. 4 shows additional features that may also improve resistance to netline tension 42. In particular, FIG. 4 shows an exemplary embodiment ofa net assembly 30 comprising upright 10 and net 40. Such as shown inthis example, upright 10 may be positioned such that a tallest edge 26of a sloped top surface 24 of upright 10 is on the side of the net 40and in line with the net line tension 42 (see FIG. 3), which providesimproved resistance against the force of net line tension 42. As afurther example, a tallest edge 26 of a sloped top surface 24 may beformed by the widest portion 12, which may be particularly beneficialfor improved resistance against the force of net line tension 42.Furthermore, such as in FIG. 4, exemplary embodiments may be configuredwith a pin 50 to connect the upright 10 to an extension pole 60 forsetting a height of net 40, wherein the pin 50 is substantially in linewith the net line tension 42 and preferably on a side of upright 10 thatis opposite the tallest edge 26 and the net 40 for even further improvedresistance to net line tension 42. Nevertheless, other exemplaryembodiments without a sloped top surface 24 or tallest edge 26 may alsobenefit from a position of a pin that is substantially in line with thenet line tension and preferably on a side of upright 10 that is oppositethe net 40.

In these exemplary embodiments, the widest portions 12 and 14 have amaximum width of about 0.5-inch, and the thinnest portions 20 and 22have a width of about 0.375-inch. These dimensions are exemplary unlessexpressly set forth otherwise. Other exemplary embodiments may have anysuitable dimensions in which there are widest portions and thinnestportions. In one other example, the widest portions may have a maximumwidth greater than 0.375-inch, and the thinnest portions may have amaximum width less than or equal to 0.375-inch.

Furthermore, in these exemplary embodiments, the widest portions 12 and14 are respectively facilitated by and radially aligned with the flatinner sides 16 and 18, whereas the thinnest portions 20 and 22 arerespectively facilitated by curved inner sides 21 and 23 such that thethinnest portions 20 and 22 have a consistent width. In an exemplaryembodiment, the widest portions 12 and 14 and the thinnest portions 20and 22 extend substantially an entire length of upright 10. However, inother exemplary embodiments, the widest portions and thinnest portionsmay extend only a partial length of the upright. Other shapes of anupright are also possible such that there are opposing widest portionscomprising widest points and opposing thinnest portions comprisingthinnest points. For instance, the inner configuration of an upright mayform an opening that may vary to be able to receive a particular shapeof an extension pole. For example, in other embodiments, a widestportion may not be associated with a flat inner side; there may not beflat and parallel inner sides; or a thinnest portion may not have acurved inner surface or a consistent width.

Exemplary embodiments of an upright are also not limited to having anouter circular shape. Other outer shapes of an upright are possible. Forsome examples, an upright may have a substantially square, rectangular,or other polygonal outer shape.

Exemplary embodiments of an upright of the present invention may beconstructed primarily of aluminum. Other exemplary embodiments of anupright may be constructed primarily of steel, stainless steel, carbonfiber, or other suitable materials. However, unless expressly set forthotherwise, it is not intended to limit an exemplary embodiment of anupright to any particular material.

Exemplary embodiments also include a related method for forming anupright or net assembly. In one example, a method may comprise providingan upright having opposing widest portions and opposing thinnestportions; and assembling the upright with an extension pole such thatthe upright and extension pole are adapted to support a net; wherein thewidest portions of the upright are adapted to be in line with a net linetension. In another example, a method may comprise providing an uprighthaving opposing widest portions and opposing thinnest portions;providing a net; and suspending the net with the upright such that thewidest portions of the upright are in line with a net line tension.Other variations of a method or system are possible to account for anyof the aforementioned characteristics of an upright, an extension pole,a net, or any of the aforementioned assemblies.

Any embodiment of the present invention may include any of the optionalor preferred features of the other embodiments of the present invention.The exemplary embodiments herein disclosed are not intended to beexhaustive or to unnecessarily limit the scope of the invention. Theexemplary embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain someof the principles of the present invention so that others skilled in theart may practice the invention. Having shown and described exemplaryembodiments of the present invention, those skilled in the art willrealize that many variations and modifications may be made to thedescribed invention. Many of those variations and modifications willprovide the same result and fall within the spirit of the claimedinvention. It is the intention, therefore, to limit the invention onlyas indicated by the scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An upright comprising: a first widest portion; asecond widest portion that opposes said first widest portion; a firstthinnest portion; and a second thinnest portion that opposes said firstthinnest portion wherein said upright is adapted to at least assist withsupport of a net such that said first widest portion and said secondwidest portion are configured to be in line with and resist a net linetension.
 2. The upright of claim 1 wherein said upright is adapted to atleast assist with support of a volleyball net.
 3. The upright of claim 1further comprising a sloped top surface that forms a tallest edge thatis configured to be in line with and resist a net line tension.
 4. Theupright of claim 3 wherein said tallest edge is formed by said firstwidest portion.
 5. The upright of claim 3 wherein said tallest edge isconfigured to be on a same side of said upright as a net.
 6. The uprightof claim 3 further comprising a pin that is adapted to secure anextension pole within said upright; wherein said upright is configuredsuch that said pin is adapted to be on a side of said upright that isopposite said tallest edge when securing an extension pole within saidupright.
 7. The upright of claim 3 further comprising a pin that isadapted to secure an extension pole within said upright; wherein saidupright is configured such that said pin is adapted to be in line with anet line tension when securing an extension pole within said upright. 8.The upright of claim 1 further comprising: a first flat inner side thatfacilitates said first widest portion; and a second flat inner side thatfacilitates said second widest portion.
 9. The upright of claim 8wherein: said first flat inner side is parallel to said second flatinner side; and said first flat inner side and said second flat innerside are configured to be perpendicular to a net line tension.
 10. Theupright of claim 8 further comprising: a first curved inner side thatfacilitates said first thinnest portion; and a second curved inner sidethat opposes said first curved inner side and facilitates said secondthinnest portion; wherein said first curved inner side and said secondcurved inner side space said first widest portion from said secondwidest portion; and wherein said first widest portion and said secondwidest portion are configured to space said first curved inner side andsaid second curved inner side from a net line tension.
 11. The uprightof claim 10 wherein said first thinnest portion and said second thinnestportion have a consistent width.
 12. A net assembly comprising: anupright comprising: a first widest portion; a second widest portion thatopposes said first widest portion; a first thinnest portion; and asecond thinnest portion that opposes said first thinnest portion; and anet supported by said upright such that there is a net line tension;wherein said first widest portion and said second widest portion of saidupright are in line with and configured to resist the net line tension.13. The net assembly of claim 12 wherein said net is a volleyball net.14. The net assembly of claim 12 wherein said upright further comprisesa sloped top surface that forms a tallest edge that is in line with andconfigured to resist the net line tension.
 15. The net assembly of claim14 wherein said tallest edge is formed by said first widest portion. 16.The net assembly of claim 14 wherein said tallest edge is configured tobe on a same side of said upright as the net.
 17. The net assembly ofclaim 14 further comprising: an extension pole positioned in saidupright such that said net is also supported by said extension pole; anda pin that secures said extension pole within said upright; wherein saidupright is configured such that said pin is on a side of said uprightthat is opposite said tallest edge.
 18. The net assembly of claim 14further comprising: an extension pole positioned in said upright suchthat said net is also supported by said extension pole; and a pin thatsecures said extension pole within said upright; wherein said pin is inline with the net line tension.
 19. The net assembly of claim 12 whereinsaid upright further comprises: a first flat inner side that facilitatessaid first widest portion; and a second flat inner side that facilitatessaid second widest portion.
 20. The net assembly of claim 19 wherein:said first flat inner side is parallel to said second flat inner side;and said first flat inner side and said second flat inner side areperpendicular to the net line tension.
 21. The net assembly of claim 19wherein said upright further comprises: a first curved inner side thatfacilitates said first thinnest portion; and a second curved inner sidethat opposes said first curved inner side and facilitates said secondthinnest portion; wherein said first curved inner side and said secondcurved inner side space said first widest portion from said secondwidest portion; and wherein said first widest portion and said secondwidest portion space said first curved inner side and said second curvedinner side from the net line tension.
 22. The net assembly of claim 21wherein said first thinnest portion and said second thinnest portionhave a consistent width.